He maintained his gaze upon her and pursed his lips, as though reminiscing about something significant.

In that moment, Claudia's cheeks grew warm and her ears took on a rosy hue. "Well, surely you can't simply go around biting people!" she retorted with a mixture of indignation and fluster.

“Very well, no more biting," he relented. "Instead, I shall opt for a kiss next time."

This declaration left her momentarily at a loss for words.

How had their interaction taken such a turn?